The Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
has been an extraordinary resource for students of North Carolina's history for over one hundred years.
The series includes documents and materials from throughout the country and from several European
repositories covering the earliest days of North Carolina's settlement by Europeans through
the ratification of the United States Constitution.

The publication of twenty-six volumes of historical materials, appearing between
1886 and 1907, with a four-volume master index, marked a significant achievement for the state's historians
and provided a benefit to the entire state of North Carolina. The turmoil and uncertainty of the
proprietary years, the attempts at consolidating power and improving life under royal stewardship, and
the emergence of an independent state were documented here through individual, governmental, and organizational records.
These documents were handwritten originals that are often difficult for non-experts to read, and some of the originals
have disappeared since publication.

When complete, "The Colonial and State Records of North Carolina" digital collection will present the entire original publication,
including the index. Its mission is to continue the legacy of an earlier generation's extensive scholarship,
improve it with this generation's technology, and empower today's and tomorrow's users by offering easier,
more efficient, and more flexible access to thousands of unique documents. Our readers will be able to browse
the volumes, consult the index, search the full text, or conduct advanced searches.